Drive against traffic, be treated like criminal, Abia Government warns traffic offenders

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From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

Henceforth, anyone caught driving against traffic in Abia State would be treated like a criminal, the state government has warned.

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This follows the resolution by the State Executive Council (EXCO) that existing traffic rules in the state should be fully enforced and further categorized driving against traffic as a serious offence.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, while briefing newsmen in Government House, Umuahia on Monday, January 13, 2025, disclosed that the resolution was taken during the first State Executive Council meeting of the year presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Prince Kanu said the measure was to curb the menace of driving against traffic in the state which has led to loss of innocent lives.

Those who commit the traffic offence would be arrested and prosecuted.

“Government is poised to ensure that there is full compliance to that. Going forward, driving against traffic will be a serious offence, no matter the distance. You see a lot of people within the town drive against the traffic for one reason or the other.

“It is now a very serious offence and the harmonized taskforce has been rejigged to ensure full compliance to that policy,” Kanu said.

In his contribution, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Citizen Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, said many accidents have been recorded and many people killed as a result of recklessness of those driving against traffic and there was need to put a stop to the menace.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information has said that Abia state government would soon rebase and update the 30-year development plan of the state evolved by the immediate past administration of Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.

He explained that the re-basing has become imperative given the inflations being experienced in the country today, noting that there was need to carry out the exercise to reflect the real position of the state’s economy, adding that the state economic team charged with the assignment would be inaugurated soon.

He equally said that in order to give further impetus to the traditional institution in the state, government has commenced the payment of monthly stipend, ranging from N250,000 to N350,000, to traditional rulers in the state.

The Commissioner also disclosed that in addition to the stipend, members of the executive of the Council of Traditional Rulers at the state level would get extra N100,000 monthly, adding that same would be applied to the leadership of the traditional rulers leadership at the local government levels.

“All these are being done to give a pride of place to our traditional rulers who are partners in progress with the state government,” the Commissioner said.

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